The Oratories Programme of Events - Season 2026-27

The Jesuits’ Church Foundation is proud to present the Programme of Events for Season 2026–27, a year-long celebration of music, literature and culture at The Oratories. This season brings together an exciting programme that connects Malta’s rich heritage with new artistic and intellectual perspectives.

The music recital programme spans centuries and genres, bringing together celebrated works, lesser-known repertoire, contemporary compositions, and performances by established and emerging musicians. From the season-opening oratorio Salvator Mundi, An Oratorio by A. Vella Gregory and works by Haydn, Vivaldi, Caldara, and Beethoven, to 21st-century piano music and the season-closing La Vida Breve, the programme offers audiences a diverse musical journey within the historic setting of the Oratories.

The literary programme, presented primarily in Maltese, celebrates the richness and continuing development of Maltese literature and poetry. Through new writing, poetry, song, translation, and literary reflection, these events bring together writers, performers, researchers, and audiences in a space dedicated to the spoken and written word.

The public lectures explore a broad range of subjects connected to art, history, heritage, spirituality, culture, and society with a fresh perspectives on subjects ranging from the artistic heritage of the Jesuits’ Church complex to Malta’s cultural and intellectual history.

Together, these events form a programme that invites audiences to encounter the Oratories not only as historic spaces, but as living places of music, thought, creativity, and cultural exchange.

Music Recitals

Season Opening Concert: Salvator Mundi

An Oratorio by A. Vella Gregory

Saturday 10th October 2026 at 19:30

Armed Forces of Malta Band conducted by Mro. Twanny Borg

Kelsey Carabott (soprano), Dorothy Bezzina (soprano)

Claire Massa (mezzo-soprano), Tom Armitage (tenor)

Louis Cassar (baritone)

Opera Nova & Cappella Sanctae Catharinae

Wens: Music for Flute

Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 19:30

Rebecca Hall (flute), Sophia Farrugia (cello),  Gisele Grima (piano)

The First Viennese School: Haydn & His Contemporaries

Thursday 5th November 2026 at 19:30

Samuel Cutajar (violin), Kurt Falzon (violin)

Peter Fenech (viola), Daniel Xuereb (cello)

Performed on instruments constructed by luthier Charlo Xuereb

Saint Cecilia’s Day Concert: Women at the Piano

Sunday 22nd November 2026 at 18:00

Milica Lawrence (piano)

Music at the Time of Don Quixote

Thursday 3rd December 2026 at 19:30

Duo Belcorde (Spain)

Supported by the Embassy of Spain in Malta

Christmas at the Oratories

Thursday 17th December 2025 at 19:30

Francesca Aquilina (soprano), Tom Armitage (piano)

Beyond Beethoven: The String Quintet 

Thursday 14th January 2027 at 19:30

Opus V (string quintet)

Part of the Beyond Beethoven Series - 200th Anniversary Celebrations

The William Driscoll Bequest: Music in Transition

Thursday 28th January 2027 at 19:30

Ramona Zammit Formosa (organ/piano)

Brunetti’s Stabat Mater (1764)

Thursday 11th February 2027 at 19:30

Marvic Baldacchino (soprano), Graziella Debattista (mezzo soprano)

Onorati Ensemble

Joseph Vella Memorial Concert

Thursday 25th February 2027 at 19:30

Miriam Cauchi (soprano), Simon Abdilla Joslin (cello)

Maria Frendo (piano), Francis Camilleri (piano)

In collaboration with Laudate Pueri Choir & Il-Ħaġar Museum,  Rabat, Gozo

Stabat Mater: Caldara & Vivaldi

Thursday 18th March 2027 at 19:30

Opera Nova Project

Tangible Illusions: Works for Clarinet Quartet

Thursday 8th April 2027 at 19:30

The Armed Forces of Malta Band Clarinet Quartet

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas

Thursday 22nd April 2027 at 19:30

Joanne Camilleri (piano)

Part of the Beyond Beethoven Series - 200th Anniversary Celebrations

German & English Art Song after Beethoven

Thursday 6th May 2027 at 19:30

Stanley Portelli (tenor), Mark Bartolo (bass), Christine Zerafa (piano)

Part of the Beyond Beethoven Series - 200th Anniversary Celebrations

Resonances: 21st century works for piano

Thursday 20th May 2027 at 19:30

Gabi Sultana (piano)

Season Closing Concert: La Vida Breve

Saturday 5th June 2027 at 19:30

Cuarteto IberMalta with Julia Miller (piano)

In collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in Malta

The Oratories

Season 2026-2027

Literary Events / Attivitajiet Letterarji

(Dawn l-attivitajiet huma bil-Malti / These events are in Maltese)

Il-Mewt dar-Raħal Tafu Sew

Il-Ħamis 29 t’Ottubru 2026 fis-19:30

Stejjer, għana u kitbiet marbutin mal-Mewt u Birkirkara

Bi sħab ma’  Muża Karkariża

Iċ-Ċerv Ukoll Midrub

Il-Ħamis 26 ta’ Novembru  2026 fis-19:30

Poeżiji u Għanjiet minn San Ġwann tas-Salib

Mark Anthony Bartolo (kitarra u kant)

Prof. Rev Charlo Camilleri (riċerka)

Bi sħab mal-Istitut Karmelitan Malta

Kutri u Kotba: Letteratura Ġdida

Il-Ħamis 7 ta’ Jannar 2027 fis-19:30

Kitbiet ġodda u xi ħaġa tajba!

Bi sħab ma’ Kotba Calleja

Leħni Għamiltu Leħnek

Il-Ħamis 18 ta’ Frar 2027 fis-19:30

Il-Poeżija Maltija Kontemporanja u t-Traduzzjoni

Attività bil-Malti u bosta ilsna barranin oħrajn

Bi sħab ma’ Inizjamed u l-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ktieb

Wara Jehanne: Ġovanna d’Arco u l-poeżija kontemporanja

Il-Ħamis 4 ta’ Marzu 2027 fis-19:30

Kitbiet ġodda minn għaxar poeti Maltin nisa

Kurazzjoni ta’ Leanne Ellul

Victor Hugo à  l’Opéra!

Il-Ħamis 15 t’April 2027 fis-19:30 / Jeudi 15 avril 2027 à 19:30

Gabrielle Portelli (sopran), Giosué  Agius (tenur)

Maria-Elena Farrugia (pjanu)

Attività parzjalment bil-Franċiż / Événement partiellement en français

Bi sħab mal-Ambaxxata Franċiża ġewwa Malta

Sabiħa bħall-Qamar! Tiddi bħax-Xemx!

Il-Ħamis 13 ta’ Mejju 2027 fis-19:30

L-Għanja tal-Għanjiet bejn poeżija, għanja u teoloġija

Ħsibijiet minn Dorianne Cassar

Direzzjoni ta’ Joseph Galea

Bis-sehem tal-atturi Alexia Micallef u Ryan Mark Debattista 

Onorati Vocal Ensemble

Direzzjoni mużikali ta’ Alex Vella Gregory

The Oratories

Season 2026-2027

Public Lectures

Living Stones: Art & Spirituality at the Jesuits’ Church Complex

Thursday 15th October 2026 at 18:30

Giulia Privitelli

Pietre Vive Malta

This is a roaming lecture around the complex

The Double Life of a 16th Century Portolan Chart

Thursday 12th November 2026 at 18:30

Chanelle Mifsud Briffa / Maria Chiara Borg

Notarial Archives Foundation

100 Years of Television: The Revolution Will Be Televised

Thursday 10th December 2026 at 18:30

Dr. Toni Sant

University of Salford, UK

Blake’s Apocalypse: The Literary, the Visionary & the Political

Thursday 21st January 2027 at 18:30

Prof. Maria Frendo

University of Malta

‘A Merry Noise’ - Carnival Across Malta’s Social Fabric

Thursday 4th February 2027 at 18:30

Dr Anna Borg Cardona

Dei Gloriam: The Restoration of Paintings at the Jesuits’ Church Complex

Thursday 11th March 2027 at 18:30

Pierre Bugeja

PrevArti

This lecture will be delivered in Maltese

The Militant & the Marginalised: A Mosaic of Early Jesuit Political Thought

Thursday 1st April 2027 at 18:30

Professor Jean-Paul de Lucca

University of Malta

Dismantling the Past: Stone Reuse in Malta’s Historic Churches

Thursday 29th April 2027 at 18:30

Dr Christian Mifsud

Heritage Malta

Jesuit Culinary Culture & the Casa Manresa Refectory

Thursday 27th May 2027 at 18:30

Dr Noel Buttigieg

University of Malta